Chapter 10: Transfer of Heat Energy and Its Effects

These flashcards cover the essential vocabulary and concepts related to the transfer of heat energy, its effects, and practical applications as discussed in Chapter 10.

Kelvin (K)

The SI unit of temperature.

Heat Transfer

The process of thermal energy being exchanged between different objects or areas.

Conduction

The transfer of heat energy from one particle to another without the physical movement of the medium.

Convection

The primary heat transfer process in liquids and gases, where heat is transmitted by the movement of the medium due to changes in density.

Radiation

The transfer of heat in the form of infrared waves without the need for a medium.

Expansion

The increase in volume of a substance when it is heated.

Contraction

The decrease in volume of a substance when it is cooled.

Bimetallic Strip

A device made of two different metals that expand at different rates, causing it to bend with temperature changes.

Thermostat

A device that maintains the temperature of appliances constant using a bimetallic strip.

Liquid-in-glass thermometer

A thermometer consisting of a bulb containing liquid which expands and rises in a glass tube with increasing temperature.

Convection Current

A continuous cycle of rising warm fluid and sinking cooler fluid that facilitates even heating.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming of the Earth due to greenhouse gases absorbing and emitting infrared radiation.

Good Conductors

Materials that transfer heat quickly, like metals such as aluminum and iron.

Insulators

Materials that transfer heat slowly, such as wood, paper, and plastic.

Emitter and Absorber of Heat

An object that emits heat is hotter than its surroundings; one that absorbs heat is cooler.

Expansion Gaps

Spaces provided in structures like rail tracks that allow for thermal expansion.

Global Warming

The increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human-produced greenhouse gases.